Indiana defensive back Devan Boykin (12) returns a fumble for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Penn State

Offense: I bet Penn State fans miss the days when Nick Singleton was a dynamic running back. Seems like a long time ago. His 3.6 yards per carry are career-low and nearly three yards lower than last fall. The over/under on gadget plays Andy Kotelnicki calls Saturday is at 12.5. I’ll take a slight over. But seriously, just keep it simple.

Defense: This has to be the most disappointing defense I’ve seen in my lifetime, considering what this unit was supposed to be. PSU is allowing 31.4 points per game during the losing streak with all five opponents scoring at least 22 points. Granted, Ohio State has, possibly, the nation’s best receiving group but shoddy secondary play has been a glaring issue these last five games.

Special teams: The return game continues being non-existent. Ryan Barker doesn’t get many chances anymore but remains nearly perfect this season. Punter Gabriel Nwosu has been getting ample opportunities and had one of his best days in Columbus, averaging nearly 50 yards per kick and placing two of his six inside the 20-yard line.

Coaching/intangibles: At least athletic director Patrick Kraft doesn’t have to worry about a strong finish and making a decision whether to hire Terry Smith full-time. Not that Smith was put in a good position anyway with games at Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana to open his head coaching run. It’s pretty staggering how ugly this season has become.

Indiana

Offense: This offense looks a lot like PSU’s was supposed to. Hoosiers are dynamic, inventive and score in bunches, averaging 46.4 points per game. Fernando Mendoza picked up where Kurtis Rourke left off last season and is firmly in the Heisman picture, totaling 2,119 yards, throwing 24 touchdowns and just three picks. Hoosiers also have two backs and two receivers over 500 yards.

Defense: How far Indiana has come defensively these past two seasons is amazing. The defense used to be a turnstile, letting opponents right into the end zone. Now it has let just one team, Oregon, reach 20 points, and that comes with a catch since seven came via a Pick-6. Hoosiers defense allowed just 37 rushing yards at Maryland and has scored more touchdowns (two) than it has allowed (one) last two weeks.

Special teams: Nico Radicic is having a perfect season, making all 48 extra-point tries and eight field goals. He also has drilled three field goals between 40-49 yards and has missed just one kick in 136 attempts the past two seasons. Punter Mitch McCarthy probably gets bored, having been called upon just 11 times. That might explain his inconsistent 40.4-yard average, although four have gone inside the 20.

Coaching/intangibles: The best thing to happen to Indiana since Norman Dale and Jimmy Chitwood joined forces, Curt Cignetti is 20-2 in his first two seasons at Bloomington. He won an Indiana record 11 games in his debut last year, and the team’s dominance this fall proves it was no fluke. He has immediately turned around programs at his three coaching stops, and Indiana is his best work yet.

Advantages: Indiana across the board

Masse’s record: 6-2

Prediction: PSU fans may be witnesses to history, tomorrow. Indiana has never won at Penn State. Not that it matters. As Cignetti said at his introductory press conference: “I win. Google me.” That continues at Beaver Stadium, although I expect the Lions to put up a fight. Indiana 38, Penn State 20.

Chris Masse is a sports writer for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, a sister paper of the Mirror and part of Ogden Newspapers.